Here we go, off the rails Don’t you know it’s time to raise our sails? It’s freedom like you never knew

Pauline’s right, you know. Super Mario Odyssey really is freedom like you never knew… at least when it comes down to Mario games. Super Mario Odyssey is nearly here, Mario’s very first full blown adventure for the Nintendo Switch.

Soar from kingdom to kingdom in the Odyssey, collect hidden Power Moons, and stop Bowser’s maleficent weeding all while enjoying some rather snazzy and jazzy holiday destinations. I mean, who wouldn’t want to lay on the carbonated shore of Bubblaine?

Will Super Mario Odyssey be your 1-Up girl (or guy), or do Power Moons just not top Shine Sprites? Jump up in the air and find out in our review after the break! (I do wonder how many of you did actually jump up in the air)

Mario has been working his cap off in preparation for his newest adventure on the Nintendo Switch in Super Mario Odyssey, but even heroes deserve a break from time to time. Mario decided to go on a little holiday to celebrate his work so far, and what’s a better holiday destination than Bubblaine Beach of the Seaside Kingdom.

Feeling a bit envious? Love a good holiday pic? Then you’re in luck, Mario was kind enough to send NintyBuzz some postcards on his little holiday at the Seaside Kingdom. Check them out after the break!

Last week I had the amazing opportunity to be invited to a special hands-on preview event for Super Mario Odyssey. Not only did I get to play the game (for about three hours) but the majority of the content I played and recorded is all brand new!

If reading is more your thing, we got you covered! Check out a written preview after the break, as well as a chance to ask some questions before the game releases next month!

It’s been a while since we have been graced with a proper Metroid adventure. Sure there was Federation Force, and though I thought it was an okay game, many would argue that it doesn’t exist to them, but that’s neither here nor there. No, this is about Samus’ reimagined mission to SR388 in an attempt to rid the universe of Metroids.

Could Metroid: Samus Returns take on a fight against Samus Aran, or does it have less life than a victim of a Metroid feeding? Find out in our review after the break!

We’ve always assumed that, in the world of Monster Hunter, monsters were just there for the hunt. But what if you could befriend the monsters, ride them, and take them into battle. Believe it or not, there’s actually whole societies who have hidden themselves from the rest of the world for many years, and in those societies there are Riders!

In Monster Hunter Stories, you are the Rider whose solemn duty is to form bona with monsters and get to the bottom of the mystery of declining populations and the Black Blight. Will Monster Hunter Stories fly with pride like your trusty Ratha, or will it not even digest into Monster Dung? Find out in our review after the break!

Square Enix’s Project Octopath Traveler took the third Spotlight in the Direct just gone. After having only a brief reveal amongst the crazy amount of hype back in January’s Switch Presentation, this title has been overlooked for a while… until now.

The stunning ‘HD-2D’ style sets it apart from many games, and despite the simplicity in its roots, the game is a graphical masterpiece (at least in this writer’s opinion) with the level of quality come to be expect of the company, and gorgeous CG effects through Unreal Engine 4.

Fittingly, the lengthiest section of the recent Direct was given to Xenoblade Chronicles 2, which is set to be one of the larger and more complex games coming to Switch. This Spotlight explained a bit of context for the game’s story and how the combat works, which has been extracted into its own video you can see here.

The entire thing is voiced over by Azurda the Titan, who is friend and landlord of the protagonist Rex; though Koizumi chips in at the end to announce the beautiful Xenoblade 2 themed Pro Controller and Collector’s Edition including a soundtrack CD, 220 page hardbound art book at metal case.